The 2019 local government elections in Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract

The election report describes the organization of local government and analyses the results of the 2019 local elections in Aotearoa New Zealand (the bilingual Māori-English name for New Zealand). The report reveals a trend of declining turnout. Districts with higher numbers of electors and those with lower numbers of elected representatives per capita had the lowest turnout. Apart from three large cities, Auckland, Christchurch and the capital city Wellington, most council and mayoral candidates do not stand for a political party or on a local ticket. As the report highlights, 2019 did see an increase in the number of women elected to positions on councils.